The sun was high on the second day when a woman ran out of the bushes towards them. "Oh, thank the Maker! We need help! They attacked the wagon; please, help us!" She gestured. "Follow me! I'll take you to them!"

She ran off before Saitada could respond. "Brehan, Brosca, Leliana, stick to the woods and circle left. Jerath, Morrigan, Cathiel, circle right. The rest of you, with me." She headed in the direction the woman had gone.

They had almost reached the caravan when the 'bodies' began to rise from the ground, pulling out weapons. An elf with a strange accent held up a blade. "The Grey Wardens die here!"

From the left and right came arrows, and a few spells from Morrigan. Lenore tossed a fireball into a group of enemy archers with an almost bored expression on her face. Saitada heard a scream, and noted Jerath had handled the other group of archers.

"Careful now," Brosca called out. "They were competent enough to set some traps. Gimme a moment." He came around the wagon, and began pulling up the metal traps. Leliana and Cathiel started to assist.

Griffon let out a woof. He appeared to be sitting on the elven assassin. Saitada walked over. An arrow had taken the man in the shoulder, but he appeared to still be breathing. "Bind him. Might as well see who hired these buffoons."

"Mmm... what?" he said as Lenore healed him back to consciousness. "I..." He looked up at her. "Oh." He sighed. "I rather thought I would wake up dead. Or not wake up at all, as the case may be. But I see you haven't killed me yet." His accent was somewhat hard for Saitada to follow. She stepped back to let Brosca handle the matter. Brehan and Cathiel were already salvaging what supplies they could from the wagon. Jerath and Morrigan remained at their vantage point, keeping an eye out. Leliana was watching the interrogation, and Sten just looked annoyed by the delay. She couldn't blame him.

"We have some questions," Lenore said.

"Ah!" He shrugged. "So I'm to be interrogated. Let me save you some time." He smiled at her. "My name is Zevran. Zev to my friends. I am a member of the Antivan Crows, brought here for the sole purpose of slaying any surviving Grey Wardens. Which I have failed at, sadly." He shrugged again.

"Who hired you to kill us?" Brosca asked as he examined on of the traps. He fiddled with it a bit, then shook his head and just looked annoyed.

"A rather taciturn fellow in the capital. Loghain, I think his name was? Yes, that's it."

"Does that mean you're loyal to Loghain?" Saitada asked.

"I have no idea what his issues are with you." Zevran sounded completely indifferent. "The usual, I imagine. You threaten his power, yes?" He shrugged again. "Beyond that, no, I'm not loyal to him. I was contracted to perform a service."

"And now that you've failed that service?" Brosca asked. He tinkered with the trap a bit more, and it finally snapped shut. He put it in his pack.

"Well, that's between Loghain and the Crows." His voice became amused. "And between the Crows and myself."

"And between you and us?" Brosca asked.

"Isn't that what we're establishing now?"

"I think that's all we needed to know." Lenore glanced at Saitada, who just shrugged tiredly.

"Then unless you're quite stuck on cutting my throat or something equally gruesome, perhaps you'd care to hear a proposal?"

"I'm listening," Brosca said. "Make it quick." He began using his dagger to clean out from under his nails.

"Well, here's the thing. I failed to kill you, so my life is forfeit. That's how it works. If you don't kill me, the Crows will. Thing is, I like living. And you are obviously the sort to give the Crows pause. So let me serve you, instead."

"What do you want in return?" Lenore asked, her tone frankly amused by the entire situation. She looked over at Brosca.

"Well... let's see. Being allowed to live would be nice, and would make me marginally more useful to you. And somewhere down the line if yo should decide that you no longer have need of me, then I go my way. Until then, I am yours. Is that fair?"

"Very well. I accept your offer," Brosca said.

Saitada turned back around and just stared at him. He shrugged. Zevran smiled at Brosca cut the ropes that bound him. "Thank you, my lord. You won't regret this." He stood up. "I hereby pledge my oath of loyalty to you, until such a time as you choose to release me from it. I am your man, without reservation... this I swear."

"Great," Saitada muttered.

#

"Are you insane?"

"You're worried about our new elf?" Brosca asked Saitada.

"I'm worried about our new assassin."

"He becomes a problem, I'll put him down," Brosca said "We need all the help we can get."

Saitada sighed. "He's your problem."

"That's what you told Brehan about Leliana, and she seems to be working out alright."

"She didn't try to kill us."

"You call that little fiasco an attempt to kill us?" Brosca laughed. "Boss, you've got low standards. Alistair's attempt to cook dinner came closer to killing us than that."

Saitada laughed. "You may have a point."

#

"So will you tell me now why you were caged?"

Sten looked down at her. "I caged myself. A weak mind is a deadly foe, as you are no doubt aware."

"Are you saying you put yourself in that cage?" Saitada asked.

"I know that my failures were my own. I told you before that I was sent here. I was not sent alone. I came to your lands with seven of the Beresaad - my brothers - to seek answers about the Blight. We made our way across the Fereldan countryside without incident, seeing nothing of the threat we were sent to observe. Until the night we camped by Lake Calenhad." He looked into the fire. "They came from everywhere: The earth beneath our feet, the air above us, our own shadows harbored the darkspawn. I saw the last of the creatures cut down, too late. I fell."

"That sounds like what happened to me at Ostagar."

He gave her a sympathetic look. "I heard the stories of Ostagar. Your kith stood their ground when others fled. No one can do more than that." He looked back to the fire. "I don't know how long I lay on the battlefield among the dead, nor do I know how the farmers found me. I only know that when I woke, I was no longer among my brothers. And my sword was gone from my hand."

"What did you do?"

"I searched for it. And when that failed, I asked my rescuers what had become of it."

"And then?" She knew the answer already, but wanted to get a better measure of the strange man.

A slight trace of regret entered his voice. "I killed them. With my bare hands." He looked at her. "I did. I knew they didn't have the blade. They had no reason to lie to me. I panicked. Unthinking, I struck them down."

"That's terrible."

"I know. I cannot justify what I have done. My honor is forfeit. That sword was made for my hand alone. I have carried it from the day I was set into the Beresaad. I was to die wielding it for my people. Even if I could cross Ferelden and Tevinter unarmed and alone to bring my report to the arishok, I would be slain on sight by the antaam. They would know me as soulless, a deserter. No soldier would cast aside his blade while he drew breath."

She sighed. After a few minutes, she asked, "couldn't you search for it?"

"If I knew where to look, it would be in my hand now."

"You said you fought the darkspawn near Lake Calenhad. I believe that is where we are heading. Don't worry. We'll find it."

He looked towards her. "Perhaps those words are empty, but... thank you all the same."

#

Jerath kept pace with Morrigan as they brought up the rear of the party. "Have you ever been hunted by the Chantry?"

She gave a low laugh. "You are very cute to ask such questions."

He shook his head. "And you are cute when you're evasive."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps we should be wrapped in ribbons and adorned with flowers, so cute are we two." She laughed again. "My mother has been hunted from time to time, yes. By Templar fools like Alistair, which should tell you how successful they generally were. Flemeth made a bit of a game of it, in fact. The Templars would come again and she would look at me and smile and say the fun was about to begin once more."

"Fun? You found it fun?" He arched an eyebrow.

"I found the game fun. I was too young to understand the truth behind what was happening. Flemeth would warn them once. 'Twas a warning they inevitably failed to heed. And then the true game began. Often Flemeth would use me as bait. A little girl to scream and run and lure the Templars deeper into the Wilds and to their doom."

"Flemeth used you as bait?"

She smiled. "'Twas a game and I a young girl. If I didn't get to play, I would have been very upset. Thankfully, the Wilds is a vast place. Once they found us, Flemeth would simply move us elsewhere and we would be lost within the forest once again. I did not understand the danger we faced until I was much older. I had never heard of 'apostates' or 'maleficarum'."

Jerath twitched a shoulder. "They got what they deserved."

She looked over at him. "Perhaps they did. Still, I do not begrudge them doing what they believe is necessary. The Chantry sees any mages not leashed to the Circle of Magi as 'apostates.' And apostates could become 'maleficarum:' even mages that resort to blood magic and become demon-enslaved abominations. It may even be true. Still, those of us who prefer freedom see no reason to submit."

"I agree completely."

"Oh?" She gave him an odd look. "I hope you are not simply being agreeable. It would be a refreshing change."

"When I was young, there was a little girl. I still remember when the Templars came, her mother begging them not to take her child, pleading. One of the Templars struck the mother hard enough to break her skull. They dragged that little girl away while her mother was still convulsing on the ground, dying."

"Did no one in the alienage do anything?"

"They moaned. Wept. Wrung their hands. The usual." He touched his blade. "I was only five, then." He looked back at her. "Do you still think it was fun?"

"I think my mother made it fun so that a child did not learn to fear. And I think that it was necessary. There are no trials for apostates, no prisons, no mercy. There are only absolutes, so only survival matters. If the Wilds have taught me anything, 'tis this: first you must survive. Do you disagree?"

"You're probably right." He looked ahead towards the others. They were all out of earshot of the conversation. Probably for the best.

She gave a surprised chuckle. "An enlightened view. Or at least an agreeable one."

#

"What was life like in a Chantry... what's the word, cloister?" Brehan asked.

Leliana smiled. "Quiet. It was a life suited for contemplation. In the cloister, away from the fuss and flurry of the cities, I found peace. And in that stillness, I could hear the Maker. But it was not perfect. Some of my Chantry fellows were condescending. That is the nature of religious folk, I suppose."

"How so?"

"When I talked about my beliefs - that the Maker reveals Himself in the beauty of His world - they..." She sighed. "Treated me with disdain. They want to believe that He is gone, so that when He turns His gaze on them, it means they are special - chosen. He cannot possibly have love for all - the sick and weary, the beggars and the fools."

"I prefer your ideas to the ideas of the Chantry," he said. He still recalled the stares of the Chantry folk when they'd noted his vallaslin. The revered mother, at least, had accepted his offering with respect. Donating it, after the trouble it had nearly caused, had felt right.

Her eyes widened, and she smiled. "Thank you." She spread her hands. "Maybe I'm wrong, but it is the Maker's place to decide if I am worthy, not men. Not the Chantry." Her voice held a quiet conviction.

They walked in silence for a while. Brehan used his senses to scan from time to time, both to check for darkspawn and to keep track of the others. They'd walked for nearly a half hour in companionable silence when Leliana gave him a contemplative look. "I must say that traveling with you has opened my eyes to how wrong some are about the Dalish. You are not at all savage. And I've not seen you snatch away women and children without provocation."

He blinked at her. "Are you trying to be funny?" he asked uncertainly.

"Funny? No, people actually do believe such things of you. If my people were more open to interacting with yours, we could do away with such mis-perceptions."

"The last time that happened, it didn't end well." He shrugged.

"I know humans and elves do not share a happy history, but peace must be possible." Her voice was earnest. "I hear many city folk talk about how wonderful it must be to live simpler lives, close to the earth. They could learn from the Dalish."

He frowned. "Do you think us a quaint curiosity meant for study?"

"I... I'm sorry. I did not mean it like that." She gave an embarrassed shake of her head. "I wasn't trying to belittle your culture. I have met very few elves and those I have met were... pledged to the service of Orlesian nobles."

"Slaves." He almost spat the word.

"They are serfs. There is no slavery in Orlais."

"It's the same thing."

"Elven servants are well-compensated for their services. Some of them live richer lives than humans. A well-trained elven servant is highly valued in Orlais. They are nimble and dextrous and many people find them pleasing to look at."

He stared at her. "Like a prize-winning animal?"

"No, I did not mean it that way!" She sighed. "My words were clumsily chosen. I did not mean to offend. I-" She made a vexed sound. "I am sorry."

"You may not be cruel," he said. "But you still see us differently." He started, slightly, then looked back at the others. Jerath was too far away for him to see, but he could sense the man. No wonder he'd been so hostile.

"I... I did not realize that. It is so strange, how long-held beliefs just seem natural and... right. Like there is no other way to feel. Thank you. You have given me a lot to think about."

The feeling was mutual. Brehan sighed. He owed Jerath an apology.

#

Saitada watched the scavenger for a moment. Then she shrugged and approached him.

"Back off!" he said when he saw her. "I was here first!"

"You haven't seen a sword lying around here, have you?"

"Why, you looking to buy one?"

"No, but my very large, angry friend here is," she gestured casually towards Sten.

"Ah... is he? Heh. Well... that's... see I'd like to sell you one, but I don't... er... have any myself." He frowned. "I got part of a glove that the wolves didn't chew too badly, though! I think it was a glove, anyway... I know. Don't say it. I got cheated." He sighed. "I knew the guy who was here before me. He sold me this spot. Said he'd found giants and all kinds of crazy valuables. He didn't mention he'd taken everything but the bones and dirt already. His name's Faryn. Squirrelly little bastard, if you ask me. Which you didn't. But I said it anyway."

Saitada made a mental note of the name. "He found valuables here?"

"So he says. He didn't leave none of it here, I'll tell you. He was going to Orzammar, he said. I imagine he's gotten there by now." He grinned. "If you find him, tell him I sent you! It'll scare the piss out of him. Heh."

She nodded, and walked back to where Lenore seemed to be trying to negotiate them a boat.

#

"You! You're not looking to get across to the tower, are you? Because I have strict orders not to let anyone pass!" Carroll folded his arms and glared.

Lenore rubbed her head. Some things never changed. "I am a Grey Warden and I seek the assistance of the mages"

"Oh, you're a Grey Warden, are you? Prove it."

"Prove it?"

"Kill some darkspawn. Come on. Let's see some righteous Grey Wardening."

"There aren't any darkspawn here." She found herself wondering if the 'whatever it took to end a blight' part of being a Grey Warden would include lighting particular templars on fire.

"That's good, I suppose. Wouldn't want darkspawn smeared across the landscape. I hear their blood is black. Is that true? You'd know if you were a Grey Warden."

"It's not black, but it burns when it touches you."

"Oh, pleasant, eh? Good thing I don't have to kill them then. Anyway, it was nice chatting with you. Now on your way. Right now. Go."

She smiled. She knew his particular weak point well. "Your superior won't like that you've given me trouble".

"Oh, really? You think Greagoir would be upset with me for not letting you in? Wait..." She could almost hear the gears trying to turn in his head. "Actually, he would. Good point."

"Well, we should try our best to avoid that, shouldn't we?"

"He's the big guy around here..." Lenore began to wonder if Carroll even actually recognized her as he prattled on. But then, it had never really been her face he'd looked at. "I bet he could deal with one Grey Warden. Alleged Grey Warden. Well, you want that i should take you there now?"

"Yes, please do."

"Come along, I suppose."

#

Lenore glanced back at Saitada as they approached the tower. Saitada gave her a nod and gestured for her to go ahead and take the lead. She took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Inside, templars were moving around, setting up barricades. Greagor stood in the center of the room, calling out orders. "...and I want two men stationed within sight of the doors at all times. Do not open the doors without my express consent. Is that clear?"

"Yes, ser," Matthias saluted.

Behind her, Alistair whispered, "the doors are barred. Are they keeping people out? Or in?"

"Now we wait, and pray." Greagoir shook his head. A templar touched his shoulder, and pointed to the wardens.

Lenore squared her shoulders and walked towards the Knight-Commander. "Greagoir. Good to see you again."

"Well, look who's back. A proper Grey Warden now, are we?" He actually gave her something vaguely resembling a smile. "Glad you're not dead."

"What's happening?" She looked around at the templars. She'd seen them drill before, but this... was definitely not a drill. "Why are the great doors barred?"

He sighed. "I shall speak plainly: The tower is no longer under our control. Abominations and demons stalk the tower's halls. We were too complacent. First Jowan, now this." He shook a finger at her. "Don't think I've forgotten your role in Jowan's escape."

"Jowan's escape seems small compared to the situation here."

"True enough." He leaned on the table. He looked tired, and for the first time since Lenore had met him, he actually looked old.

She looked around the room. A few mages huddled in a corner, trying to stay out of the way of the templars. Her eyes narrowed. "What has become of the first enchanter?"

"We don't know." Frustration, and a hint of fear, filled Greagoir's voice. "We saw only demons, hunting templars and mages alike. I realized we could not defeat them and told my men to flee."

She looked over her shoulder at her companions. After what they'd done at Redcliffe, surely they could do something here. "What can I do to help?"

He blinked at her. "I have sent word to Denerim, calling for reinforcements and the Right of Annulment."

Her blood ran cold. "How can you think of annulling the entire Circle?"

"This situation is dire." He gave her a remorseful look. "There is no alternative - everything in the tower must be destroyed so it can be made safe again."

She shook her head. "The mages are not defenseless. Some must still live."

"If any are still alive, the Maker himself has shielded them. No one could have survived those monstrous creatures. It is too painful to hope for survivors and find... nothing."

Once again she looked around the room. It wasn't just mages in danger, she realized. Familiar faces were missing among the templars. She scanned for one face in particular. He wasn't there. She looked back at Greagoir. "I'll look for survivors."

"I assure you, an abomination is a force to be reckoned with, and you will face more than one."

"I have confidence in our abilities." She looked back at her companions, drawing his attention to them.

"Ah, that arrogance hangs about you like some fell cloud, doesn't it?" She was surprised to hear pride in his voice. He sighed, then looked back at the others. He nodded. "If you succeed, I would owe you much, enough that I would pledge my templars to your cause. Without word from Denerim, I must determine our course. Surely destroying darkspawn is a worthy goal."

"We have an agreement, then."

"A word of caution... once you cross that threshold, there is no turning back. The great doors must remain barred. I will open them for no one until I have proof that it is safe. I will only believe it is over if the first enchanter stands before me and tells me it is so. If Irving has fallen... then the Circle is lost, and must be destroyed. May Andraste lend you her courage, whatever you decide."

#

Saitada raised an eyebrow as Lenore walked back over to them. "Um... Lenore?"

Lenore's voice was flat. "Annulling the circle means killing everyone inside. All the mages." She shook her head. "Saitada, there are children in there."

"Well then, let's get started." Saitada gestured at the others. Under the watchful eyes of the templars, they followed Lenore into the tower.

#

Brehan looked back as the door closed behind them. Locked in a mage cage, about to face demons and abominations. He was almost starting to miss the darkspawn. He was mollified a bit to note that Morrigan and Sten also looked a bit nervous.

He put a hand on the hilt of the axe he'd picked up in Redcliffe, as much to reassure himself it was still there as anything else. Lenore walked ahead, Saitada a pace behind her. Brosca was watching the mage, his face betraying concern for his friend. Brehan glanced at one of the bodies laying on the ground, and realized that they were walking through Lenore's home.

This was not going to be pretty.

#

Ahead, there was a burst of magic. A small group of mages set their spells against a demon, while a group of children cowered behind them. The eldest of the mages sent forth a burst of energy that seemed to dissolve the demon. She touched her head, then turned towards the children and saw them approaching. Her staff came up. "Stop right there! Take another step, and I swear I will strike you down where you stand!" She blinked. "You? You've returned to the tower? Why did the templars let you through? Are you here to warn us?

Lenore held up her hands. "This was my home. I want to see what's happened to us."

Wynne nodded. "I see you still care about the Circle and our tower. Unfortunately, the Circle is in grave danger."

Lenore nodded. "From the templars. They intend to annul the Circle."

Wynne's shoulders sagged. "They have the Right of Annulment."

"No, but Greagoir expects it to arrive soon," Lenore walked towards her.

Wynne sighed in resignation. "So Greagoir thinks the Circle is beyond hope. He probably assumes we are all dead." She looked back at the children. "They abandoned us to our fate, but even trapped as we are, we have survived. If they invoke the Right, however, we will not be able to stand against them."

Lenore's hands tightened on her staff. "We waste time here when there are abominations to kill."

"If you are here to kill abominations, let me help you." She gestured wearily at the door behind her. "I erected a barrier over the door leading to the rest of the tower, so nothing from inside could attack the children. You will not be able to enter the tower as long as the barrier holds, but I will dispel it if you join with me to save this Circle."

Lenore nodded. "We must try to avoid needless slaughter."

"Yes. Even if we cannot eliminate all the demons and abominations, together, we could lead the survivors out." Hope began to show in her eyes. "Once Greagoir sees we have made the tower safe, I trust he will tell his men to back down. He is not unreasonable."

"Will the children be safe here?" Saitada asked.

Wynne blinked as if noticing Lenore's companions for the first time. A hint of a smile began to show on her face as she looked them over. "Petra and Kinnon will watch them. If we slay all the fiends we encounter on our way, none will get by to threaten the children."

"Very well -" Lenore glanced at Saitada. "If you think that is best."

Morrigan shook her head. "You want us to assist this preachy schoolmistress? To rescue these pathetic excuses for mages? They allow themselves to be corralled like cattle, mindless. Now their masters have chosen death for them and I say let them have it." Her voice was spiteful.

Lenore rounded on her. "Hold your tongue, you harpy!"

"You will do as I say," Saitada said.

Morrigan scoffed. "Have it your way," she said, waving a hand dismissively.

Wynne turned to the other mages. "Petra, Kinnon... look after the others. I will be back soon."

Petra gave her a worried look. "Wynne... are you sure you're alright? You were so badly hurt earlier. Maybe I should come along."

"The others need your protection more. I will be all right," Wynne said, gesturing at the wardens. She pointed to the children. "Stay here with them... keep them safe and calm."

A couple children were clinging to Griffon, and Cathiel instructed the hound to stay with the kids. He woofed, and began happily licking faces.

"Have faith." Lenore smiled at Petra. "We will not fail."

Wynne nodded at her. "Your confidence is refreshing, though you should make sure it does not blind you to your weakness." Morrigan rolled her eyes and made a rude sound. Wynne shot her an annoyed look. "If you are ready, let us go end this."

"Let's go," Saitada said.

#

Lenore looked over the barrier. It was surprisingly strong. She could perhaps have matched it, but not without effort. Wynne nodded at it. "Here we are. I am somewhat amazed at myself for having kept it in place this long."

"You did what you had to do, Wynne," Lenore said, giving her a respectful nod.

"It made me very weary at times, but I had to stay strong, to keep us safe. Be prepared for anything. I do not know what manner of beasts lurk beyond this barrier."

"Do not fear, my good lady," Zevran said, his voice almost cheerful. "Our Grey Wardens are very good at fending off attackers. Speaking from experience here."

"I wish to hurt him," Brehan said.

"Later," Saitada said, shooting the both a glare.

"We're ready. Destroy the barrier," Lenore said.

"All right. Be on your guard..." Wynne gestured, and the barrier fell in a burst of bright light.